Erico Ortiz: May 2021

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Take Hold....

"Take Hold" (acrylic, 20x20")

I'm enjoying this play with color, used in non-traditional ways. This may turn into a series... reaching, touching, holding, etc. -Erico

Thursday, May 20, 2021

The challenging times...

"I Got You"(acrylic, 12x48")

These are definitely trying times for all of us. I hope I've expressed the best sentiment here. Life is hard. Hope and compassion are needed. I hope I'm living up to the title of this piece. -Erico

Monday, May 10, 2021

Painting Poppies...

"Blue Poppies" (acrylic, 16x20)

Painting Parties are fun at Inspiration Studios. While teaching others to create their version of a field of poppies, I created this piece. It was fun. I'm learning how my communication style can impact what others create. This may be a life lesson, applicable to other aspects of my interactions with others. In this case, the results of the painting party (paint n sip) were quite spectacular and so much fun! View them at inspirationstudiosgallery.com. -Erico

Sunday, May 2, 2021

Poppies...

"Poppies" (acrylic, 16x")20

I've been struggling to get inspired to paint. This was a fun project with the intention of creating something for an upcoming Paint 'n Sip party on Mother's Day. Hopefully it will lead to more creative expression. -Erico

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Biographical Note

Erico Ortiz was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico in 1955. He earned his undergraduate degree at Marquette University (Spanish Education) and a Masters Degree from UW-Milwaukee (Administrative Leadership). Erico taught Spanish for ten years and then became a school administrator, having worked at several Milwaukee Public Schools until retiring in 2011. He has worked with several community theatre companies, both on stage and behind the scenes, something he still enjoys today. He plays guitar and, until June 2019, could be found Sunday mornings directing the Spanish choir at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish in Milwaukee. In 2014, he opened Inspiration Studios, a small art gallery and performance venue in downtown West Allis that he owns and manages. Erico's life is all about the arts!

Artist's Statement

In 1998, a study leave immersed me in art education courses at UW-Milwaukee. While this was not the traditional studio coursework that a budding artist would undertake, I learned the value of critical thinking and problem-solving as they relate to educating students in the arts. After years of rather humble artistic endeavors, my retirement from the Milwaukee Public Schools in 2011 provided the opportunity I needed to explore visual arts as never before. I began to paint! I realized that inspiration was all around me—in people and places, sights and sounds, music and movies.

As part of my creative process, I determine the idea for a project. Then the first challenge is the mixing and blending of colors to achieve a certain effect on a canvas, a challenge I truly enjoy. Sometimes that selection process takes on a life of its own... and I'm forced to abandon my initial intention to give way to a new creative thought. Still honing skills and techniques, I am often thrilled (and sometimes pleasantly surprised!) by the resulting color compositions and the overall product.

What began as a hobby has become a way of viewing the world and expressing my mind’s eye on canvas. If you choose to view these pages, you will see that I am still finding my way.

Erico Ortiz